TABLE

Writing Task 1 – Describing Table

HOW TO DESCRIBE A TABLE IN IELTS WRITING
TASK 1?

 Step 1: Learn the Question

 Step 2: Paraphrase the Question
 Step 3: Write the Overview
 Step 4: Consider Rules in IELTS Writing Task 1
 Step 5: Check your Grammar and Punctuation
STEP 1: LEARN THE QUESTION
 STEP 2: PARAPHRASE THE QUESTION

Original Task
” The table shows data about underground railway systems in six major cities with date opened,
kilometres of route and passenger numbers per year in millions.”

Paraphrased Version
” The table illustrates data regarding underground railways from six large cities in various parts of the
world. The information shows when these railways were opened, kilometres of route
and yearly passenger numbers in millions.”
STEP 3: WRITE OVERVIEW
 Overview

“Overall, London and Paris have the

oldest underground train system in the
world,  compared to Los Angeles which
started service at the turn of the 21st
century. Passenger numbers for Tokyo
are the highest, in contrast to Kyoto,
which has the lowest number of yearly
passengers and the shortest kilometres
of route”
 STEP 4: CONSIDER THESE RULES

 You should write not more than 2 body paragraphs in IELTS writing task 1 question. Don’t write
less than 150 words (Task Achievement)
 Divide two body paragraphs in systematic ways, e.g. based on information in row-column, items
on figures or timing.(coherence)
 You can use sentence connectors, such as other than this, furthermore, whereas etc. (cohesion)
 Vary your vocabulary with uncommon or less common ones. (Lexical Resource)
 Range grammar with accuracy and flexibility. (Grammar)
  You can compare the figures to find out if there are any differences or similarities.
 Explain similarities in general and describe difference in detail.
STEP 5: USE APPROPRIATE GRAMMAR &
CAPITALIZATION
 The table illustrated a data regarding
underground railways from six large cities in
various part of the world, show year opened,
kilometres of route and yearly passenger
numbers in millions. (4)
 Overall, London and Paris had an oldest
underground train system in the world,
compared with Los Angeles, which is relatively
new. passengers for Tokyo is the highest, in
contrast to kyoto, which have the lowest
number of yearly passengers and the shortest
route. (8)
STEP 6: CHECK GRAMMAR AND SPELLING

 The London underground, opening in 1863, was

the oldest network. It is also the most extensive
with 394 kilometres of route. The railway system
in Paris, which was opened at 1900, is
approximately half the size and served more
passenger. The underground in Tokyo is the
bussiest of the three with 1928 million passengers
yearly and 155 kilometres of route. (7)
 Regarding the three other systems, Washinton DC
has the longer route of the three, in contrast,
Kyoto had only 11 kilometers of route and the
lowest pasenger numbers of all the cities with 45
millions passengers yearly. Following this, Los
Angeles, opened in 2001, has 28 kilometres of
track and serves 50 million passengers per year.
(7)
The table illustrated a data regarding underground railways from six large cities in various part
of the world, show year opened, kilometres of route and yearly passenger numbers in millions.
Overall, London and Paris had an oldest underground train system in the world, compared with
Los Angeles, which is relatively new. passengers for Tokyo is the highest, in contrast to Kyoto,
which have the lowest number of yearly passengers and the shortest route.
The London underground, opening in 1863, was the oldest network. It is also the most extensive
with 394 kilometres of route. The railway system in Paris, which was opened at 1900, is
approximately half the size and served more passenger. The underground in Tokyo is the
bussiest of the three with 1928 million passengers yearly and 155 kilometres of route.
Regarding the three other systems, Washington DC has the longer route of the three, in contrast,
Kyoto had only 11 kilometers of route and the lowest passenger numbers of all the cities with 45
millions passengers yearly. Following this, Los Angeles, opened in 2001, has 28 kilometres of
track and serves 50 million passengers per year.
LET’S PRACTICE
The table below gives information about consumer spending on different items in five different
countries in 2002
INTRODUCTION

The table below gives information about consumer spending on different items in five different
countries in 2002
Introduction

The table illustrates data regarding the consumption of people on three different categories in
five different countries in the period of 2002. The categories are food, drink and tobacco;
clothing and footwear; and leisure and education.
Overall, food, drink and tobacco were the items that were consumed the highest compared to
the other categories with Turkey as the highest with 32.14% while Sweden had the lowest
percentage with 15.77%. Leisure and education, as the lowest percentage shown, placed Spain
with only 1.98% as the lowest consumption compared to the other four countries.
 BODY 1
Write!
Looking at the table, the second highest spending for food, drink and tobacco was Ireland with 28.91%.
Spain spent around 10% lower than Ireland with 18.80%. The other two countries, Italy and Sweden were
the lowest in this category with 16.36% and 15.77% respectively.
Regarding the other two categories, for clothing and footwear, Italy led with 9.00% meanwhile Turkey was
the second highest with 2. 37% lower than Italy. Spain, Ireland and Sweden came next after those two
countries with 6.51%, 6.43% and 5.40% respectively. The lowest spending was Leisure and education with
Turkey as the highest spender in this category with 4.35%. Sweden was the second highest with 1.13 %
lower than Turkey. Italy had almost the same percentage as Sweden with only 0.02% difference. Ireland and
Spain, in the other hand, were the lowest spenders with 2.21% and 1.98% respectively.
BODY 2